Display device for photographs



No. 627,355. Patented lune 20, |899. W. C. ROMANS.

DISPLAY DEVICE FUR PHOTOGRAPHS.

(Application led Dec'. 5, 1898.)

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UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.

VVILLETT C. ROMANS, OF FREEPORT, OHIO.

DISPLAY DAEVICE-FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,355, dated June 20, 1899.

Application filed December 5, 1898. Serial No. 698,333. (No model.)

To all whom; it may concern:

Beit known that l, WILL-ETT C. ROMANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Freeport, in the county of Harrison and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display Devices for Photographs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact-description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

This invention relates to display devices for photographs, and the intent and purpose of the same is to conveniently exhibit a collection of unmounted photographs, and is particularly adapted for use by amateurs and to avoid the expense, time, and labor incidental to card-mounting.

The invention primarily consists Vof a box or casing having a removable top with a transparent plate therein, and below the same, within the box or casing, is pivoted a combined guide and rest, over which a web carrying the photographs is movable and operated by opposite lower rollers or spools under tension, the guide or rest also servingconveniently as a base for the web in applying the photographs to the latter.

The invention further consists of the general construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display device embodying theA invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section. Fig. is a detailperspective view of the combined guide and rest. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the rollers or spools, showing the manner of attaching the web thereto. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective View of a tension-spring used in connection with the rollers.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals are utilized to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a box or casing of suitable size or dimensions and material. The said box or casing has a removable slide top or cover 2V with a transparent or glass plate 3 therein, and within the body of the box at a suitable elevation and adjacent opposite ends are rollers n or spools 4 and 5, each having end flanges 6.

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The center of the spindle or winding portion 7 of each of the rollers or spools is also formed with a-recess 8, in which is secured ahook 9, and removably attached to the opposite hooks are eyes 10, fastened to the reduced ends 11 of the web l2 ofcanvas or other suitable ma= The purpose of this mode of connection is to permit the web to engage the winding-surface of the rollers or spools without lprojecting interference of the fastening devices, and also to render said web easily attachable ordetachable for various purposes. The flanges 6 of the rollers or spools conne the web and prevent lateral movement thereof and insure a regular winding and unwinding of the same. The ends ,of the rollers are journaled in opposite sidesv of the box or casing, and secured to one set of ends are exteriorly located turn heads or buttons 13 'forA turning said rollers. f

To prevent the rollers from 'having a too loose movement or play and to relieve the web 12 of slack, a tension or brake device is employed, and consists of a substantially U- shaped spring 14:, having the bow thereof secured to one side of the bottom of the box or casing 1 and provided with upwardly-extending arms 15 to rest against the peripheries of the'iianges 6 at one end of the rollers. The said spring is located between the rollers, and to prevent the arms 15 from slipping -out of place they are .provided with iianges 16, extending out over portions of opposite faces of each flange.

Above the rollers or spools 4 and 5 a combined guid and rest or mounting-board 17 is situated and immediately'under the transparent or glass plate 3 in the top or cover 1. This guide and rest has opposite side rails 18, which are secured to the side edges of an intermediate body 19 and project above and below and beyond the ends of the latter. The rails 18 are each pivoted at one end to the adjacent side of the box or casing and at the opposite ends are adapted to engage and be removably supported by stops 20, also secured to the box or casing sides at a proper elevation. The web 1 2 runs over the top ofthe body 19 and between the rails 18, and the upper portions of the ends of said body are beveled in curved lines to permit said web to have an easy movement and avoid wear on the IOO same. The top of the body 19 is in the main flat and to such an extent as to give a level exposure to the pictures 21 directly under plate 3 and which are pasted or applied to the upper side of the web 12 at regular intervals. The body 19 also serves as a rest for the web 1'2 when applying the pictures or photographs thereto, and by pivotally attaching the guide or rest as an entirety it can be easily raised to make the rollers or spools accessible.

The pictures or photographs are so applied to the web 12 that they will be successively displayed under the glass plate 3 in a proper manner and so that they may be conveniently inspected. To move the web for the purposes of display of the pictures thereon, the head or button 13 on the roller or spool al is turned by the hand of the operator, and the said web will thus be gradually unwound from the roller 5 and wound on the said roller t. XVhen the end of the web is reached, a reverse winding by application of similar power to the head or button on the roller 5 is attained. The number of pictures or photographs displayed will vary according to the filled condition of the web and also the length of the latter and size of said pictures or photographs. A very unique and profitable means of preserving and displaying pictures is thus provided, and the proportions and dimensions of the several parts may be changed to accommodate different sizes of pictures.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a display device of the character set forth, the combination of a box or casing having a removable top or cover with a transparent plate therein, rollers mounted in said box at a distance apart from each other, a web removably attached to said rollers and adapted to be wound on one or the other and intended to have pictures or photographs applied thereto, and a combined pivoted guide and rest above the rollers over which said web has movement comprising a main board With side rails which project above, below and beyond the ends of said board.

2. In a display device of the character setforth, the combination of a box or casing having a top or cover with a transparent plate therein, iianged rollers or spools rotatably mounted in said box or casing at a distance from each other, a combined non-rotatable guide and rest in the upper part of the box or casing pivoted at one end only, a web hav ing its ends removably attached to said rollers or spools and adapted to support pictures or photographs, and a tension-spring between said rollers or spools and having arms to engage the anges of one end of each of the y latter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W ILLETT C. ROMANS.

litnessesz J. D. MCMATH, B. J. GREEN. 

